Art Donovan

In 1975, Sun reporter Frederic Kelly sat down with Art Donovan, turned on a tape recorder and let the Colts' first Hall of Famer spin tales about his playing days. Here are some excerpts: "We used to throw cold buckets of water on each other, and one day (coach) Weeb Ewbank sent word out that the next guy he caught throwing water he was going to fine $1,000. So Gino Marchetti says to Carl Taseff, 'Listen, Gaucho, we'll throw one more bucket of water and we'll throw it on 'The Horse' (Alan Ameche)

Arthur Anthony "Art" DeCarlo Sr., a defensive back for the Baltimore Colts who played on the fabled 1958 championship team, died of complications from dementia Dec. 21 at his home in Birmingham, Ala. The former Ellicott City resident was 82. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was the son of Josephina and Antonio DeCarlo, a contractor. He was raised by an older brother after the death of his parents. He worked in a steel mill the summer after his senior year in high school and had offers to play for Ohio colleges.

The Ravens released a statement Sunday night from owner Steve Bisciotti on the death of former Baltimore Colts defensive lineman Art Donovan. “We lost a friend, one of the finest men and one of the greatest characters we were fortunate to meet in this community and in this business. “Baltimore is now without one of its best and someone who was a foundation for the tremendous popularity of football in our area. The world is not as bright tonight because we lost someone who could make us all smile.”

Forty-five years later, Dan Sullivan can still hear his Colts teammate's declaration prior to the 1968 NFL championship game in Cleveland. "I'm going home Sunday," said running back Tom Matte, who hailed from Cleveland, "so don't you S.O.B's embarrass me out there. " They did not. Baltimore won, 34-0 as Matte ran for 88 yards and three touchdowns through holes carved out by Sullivan and other Colts linemen. "We played a near perfect game," said Sullivan, the right guard. "And every time Matte scored, he ran straight to the stands and shook hands with the fans.

The passing of Baltimore Colt great Art Donovan ( "Beloved player known for his grit and his wit," Aug. 5) brought back a special childhood memory. Growing up on Pinewood Avenue in northeast Baltimore, I had the good fortune to live across the street from "Artie. " On more than one occasion, I would have one of my parents cross me over to his house. I then knocked on his front door and asked this bona fide NFL star on a world championship team to play football with me in his backyard.

Here's what others are saying about the death of former Baltimore Colts defensive lineman Art Donovan: * Clark Judge of CBSSports.com talked about Donovan's value to football . But he was much more than a damned good football player. He was one helluva guy. He was kind. He was friendly. And he was a riot. Donovan was to story telling what Jim Brown was to running backs. Nobody told one better. He had a laugh the size of Memorial Stadium and a kind and generous heart -- always willing to help out when and where he could.

Art Donovan played pro football for 12 years. The rest of his life, he spent telling everyone about it. Donovan, 89, who died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice, played and talked a great game. He was a Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts and an engaging raconteur at banquets and on TV talk shows. His cherublike face, adenoidal voice and side-splitting tales of yore captivated generations of viewers who never saw Donovan collar a quarterback or take down a runner.

When my son James was a student at Loyola High School in the 1990s, I was active in the school's Fathers' Club, which was a collection of guys from all walks of life who enjoyed a good time and shared a connection at the Towson school. One of the club's officers had the bright idea of starting a Sports Night, and within a nanosecond, it became my responsibility to furnish speakers for these evenings. "You know plenty of people. Should be a snap," bellowed the always-genial Mike Kaiser, Fathers' Club president, who never took no for an answer.

The flags at the Under Armour Performance Center were at half mast Monday in mourning of former Baltimore Colts defensive tackle Art Donovan, who died Sunday at 89 of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice. Harbaugh had planned to get together with the Pro Football Hall of Famer in June, but Donovan cancelled because he wasn't feeling well. Harbaugh then talked about having Donovan over to the team facility at some point during training camp. “We were planning on [getting together]

There was a message left on the office phone one cold night in 2001, but the caller didn't leave his name. It was just an old raspy voice wanting to say hi. I recognized the voice because I had heard him talk several hundred times, so I called him back to give him my regards. It was Art Donovan. Before I finished my introduction, he cut me off and started another conversation. "I know who you are, kid," said the Baltimore Colts' former Pro Bowl defensive tackle. "I read your stuff.

Baltimore Colts Donovan's funeral to be held at 11 a.m. today A funeral Mass for Art Donovan , the former Baltimore Colts defensive tackle and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Donovan, 89, died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. There will be no viewing, and interment is private. Go to baltimoresun.com to see WJZ's live video coverage from the funeral.

A funeral Mass for Art Donovan, the Baltimore Colts defensive tackle and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Donovan, 89, died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium . There will be no viewing and interment is private. Donovan died just before 8 p.m. Sunday, surrounded by 15 to 20 family members, said his daughter, Kelly Donovan-Mazzulli. "My mom [Dorothy]

When my son James was a student at Loyola High School in the 1990s, I was active in the school's Fathers' Club, which was a collection of guys from all walks of life who enjoyed a good time and shared a connection at the Towson school. One of the club's officers had the bright idea of starting a Sports Night, and within a nanosecond, it became my responsibility to furnish speakers for these evenings. "You know plenty of people. Should be a snap," bellowed the always-genial Mike Kaiser, Fathers' Club president, who never took no for an answer.

The passing of Baltimore Colt great Art Donovan ( "Beloved player known for his grit and his wit," Aug. 5) brought back a special childhood memory. Growing up on Pinewood Avenue in northeast Baltimore, I had the good fortune to live across the street from "Artie. " On more than one occasion, I would have one of my parents cross me over to his house. I then knocked on his front door and asked this bona fide NFL star on a world championship team to play football with me in his backyard.

Art Donovan's moving on is a reminder to me of another Baltimore, one that lives in the memories of we children of the 1960s who grew up in a wonderful city that on six Sunday afternoons every fall coalesced around a football team that was much more than that. ( "Art Donovan, vocal ex-Colts defensive tackle, dies at 89," Aug. 5.) My father had purchased season tickets to the Colts shortly after the team started playing at Memorial Stadium. As the city moved from 1957 through the 1960s and '70s, the Colt's were one of the things that we all loved.

New attention is coming to the 2009 case of a programmer who was detained by the FBI and interrogated without an arrest warrant at the direct request of Goldman Sachs. Meanwhile, the BART commuter service is running -- for now -- in San Francisco after California Governor Jerry Brown broke a planned strike. Also attracting interest and reminiscences this morning: Former Baltimore Colt has died at age 89. Welcome to your trends report for August 5, 2013. TRENDING ONLINE Peter Capaldi Where: Google search Why: A British actor best known for playing a foul-mouthed political spin doctor was named on Sunday as the new lead in the BBC's "Doctor Who", the long-running science fiction series that has terrified generations of children.

I spoke to Art Donovan last week after seeing him having a good, old time with Michael Strahan in the ESPN special on the 1958 NFL title game, The Greatest Game Ever Played. Donovan said he told the gap-toothed former Giant: "With all your money, why don't you get another tooth?" Donovan also said he turned down an invitation to attend a screening of the documentary in New York because he was taking two of his grandchildren to Disney World. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/mediumwell)

A funeral Mass for Art Donovan, the Baltimore Colts defensive tackle and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Donovan, 89, died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium . There will be no viewing and interment is private. Donovan died just before 8 p.m. Sunday, surrounded by 15 to 20 family members, said his daughter, Kelly Donovan-Mazzulli. "My mom [Dorothy]

The Ravens released a statement Sunday night from owner Steve Bisciotti on the death of former Baltimore Colts defensive lineman Art Donovan. “We lost a friend, one of the finest men and one of the greatest characters we were fortunate to meet in this community and in this business. “Baltimore is now without one of its best and someone who was a foundation for the tremendous popularity of football in our area. The world is not as bright tonight because we lost someone who could make us all smile.”